James g



J. G. LUCAS.

inkstand.

No. 133,465. Patented Nov. 26, 1872.

lid-1 4M. FHOTUi/THOGRAFH/C CQNXQYSEOHNE S PROCESS] JAMES e. LUCAS, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro HIMSELF AND a. W. SOHERMERHORN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

iMPROVEWlENT lN INKSTANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,465, dated November 26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. LUCAS, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a LockCover for Ink-Wells, Inkstands, and similar articles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is mainly designed to be applied to ink-wells used. in schools, for the purpose of preventing the scholars from tampering with their ink or using it unless permitted to do so by the teacher; it is applicable, however, to office inkstands and other articles. It consists in a cover and lock composed substantially of an annular frame which is rigidly secured to a desk around an ink-well, or to the neck or body of an inkstand or other article, a cover rotating within it, a spring by which said cover is moved in a direction to uncover the well, inkstand, or other article, and a spring-catch by which the cover is locked when turned to cover the well or article over which it is arranged.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a plan or outside view of the lock-coverv with the cover closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the face-plate or escutcheon removed and cover open. Fig 3 is a similar view with the cover removed, and Fig. his a transverse section of said cover and lock.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The frame of the device is composed of three pieces-a ringshaped body, A, a back, B, and a face-plate, G. The body A is of circular form, and has three projections on its circumference, two, a a, being opposite each other, and one, I), intermediate to them. The latter, which is hollow, is provided with a bridge, 0, carrying a stud, e, for the reception of the key by which the lock is unlocked, and the two former have holes for the reception of screws by which the frame is secured to the desk or to the inkstand or other article to which the device is applied. The back B consists of a plate, f, of circular form, fitted within the body A and secured therein by pins 12 n, but may be made in the same piece with the body A.

' It has an opening, 2' t, of nearly semicircular form. The cover D is of circular form, somewhat greater than a semicircle, and fits loosely within the body A. It is pivoted at its center B by a pin, g, to the back B, the head of the said pin being secured to prevent it from turning independently by an additiona1 pin, 12. The pin or pivot g is secured in place by a nut, h, applied to a screw on its end behind, the back B. A convolute spring, I, secured at one end to the pivot g and coiled round it, and secured at the other end to the back B, tends to rotate the cover in a direction to uncover the inkstand. A pin on the back of the cover coming in contact with the backs of the notches 0 o in the straight edge of the semicircular portion of the back B limits the motion of the cover in either direction. Attached to the periphery of the cover is the spring-catch J, one end of which is free, and which, when the coveris closed over the opening i 2', enters a notch, s, in the inner side of the body A, and thereby locks the cover in position. When the cover is closed the arched back of the catch J comes opposite the stud c, and the bit of the key applied to the stud pushes the end of said catch out of its notch in the body-piece A, and, by releasing it, allows the convolute spring I to shift the cover and uncover the opening 2' 2' so as to open the inkstand. The face-plate O is of annular form, having projections to correspond with those of the body-piece, to which it is secured by pins or rivets.

To close the cover it is slid round, by applyin g the thumb or finger nail or the finger to a knob, r, on its face, to a position to cover the opening t i, and it is there retained by the aid of the spring J catching in its notch s in the frame. the key is applied to the stud c and turned so as to release the catch J, and the spring I will then return the cover to a position to open the inkstand. The cover being closed and the key being kept by the teacher, the pupil in a school can have no access to the inkstand without the teachers permission.

For an oflice or library inkstand the key may be dispensed with, and a spring-knob be provided to press back the catch for opening the cover.

Claim. The combination of the frame A B O, the pivoted cover D, the spring I, and springcatch J, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

J AMES G. LUCAS. Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. LYrLE, A. M. KEVE.

To open or uncover the inkstand, 

